Tough week.

We got the sad news yesterday morning that Andy's Uncle George had passed away. He was scheduled for bypass surgery TODAY. Sometimes life is just so unfair.

Please keep his wife Janice, his children and grandchildren, and the entire Shelton family in your thoughts and prayers. It is going to be a tough week around here.

Moving day is almost here!

It is all but final that we are closing on both our current house and our new house next Friday, February 26th. A week from today! Andy has been traveling a ton, and I am bound and determined to get the house packed myself(in order to save us $560, the cost of having the movers pack for us). The downstairs is almost completely done, but there is still a lot to be done upstairs. I found out tonight that the sellers of our new house have agreed to allow us to put "a few boxes" in the garage ahead of time...an offer that we will be taking FULL advantage of. The more we can move ahead of time, the less time it will take the movers to load and unload our stuff (and the less $ will cost us). It is a stressful time, but we could not be more excited about the new place. We are just ready to BE there, and be settled in.

The new house is right down the road, in the next town over. It is 10 or 15 minutes from where we live now. It is on almost an acre lot (which we are really psyched about), and is a house big enough for us to live in for a LOOOOOONG time. I really hope it becomes our "forever" home.

Camryn is dealing with the mayhem just fine. She loves to look into the boxes I am packing, take things out, put things [cheerios, cheese, toys] in, etc. I am interested to see how she adapts to living in a new house, and I am a little nervous about her getting used to her new bedroom. She is SUCH a good sleeper, and loves her room and crib now...it kills me to switch things up on her. When I bring her into her room for bed at night, she practically dives in her crib, and with her paci in her mouth and blanket in hand, goes RIGHT to sleep. I wish she was just a little older so she would understand that we are moving to a new house. I am afraid that she will wake up in the new house, in her new bedroom, scared and not knowing where she is. I suppose it will take a little getting used to for all of us...

I took some really cute pictures this week. I finally got some of her teeth, and also of her playing peek-a-boo with me under the coffee table. I am biased, but I sure do think she is cute! Enjoy!

Teeth (finally some good pics)



Calling Aunt Amy


Peek-a-boo Mommy!


And, I just think this one is so precious:

Welcome to my humble abode:

Feel my pain? :-P

No time to write, Andy is gone again this week, and I am ridiculously busy with packing and parenting. Here are a couple of the *almost walking* princess though:

Please be thinking of baby Cooper.

Our dear friends Abby and Bobby Weinberg welcomed their second little bundle of joy, Cooper, into the world on February 4. I received an email from Abby last night saying that Cooper had been admitted to the NICU with RSV and pneumonia, and that he is sedated and on a ventilator. Please keep this handsome little man in your thoughts and prayers:



Anyone who is a parent knows there is nothing worse than seeing your child in pain, especially when there is nothing you can do to make them feel better. I know the Weinbergs appreciate all the good vibes that can possibly be sent their way right now.

Brushing teeth

We are finally done doing our "homework" on this next house we want, and we put in an offer yesterday! We did some negotiating last night, but then Andy had to board a plane (long flight to Puerto Rico), so we left them with our latest counter offer last night. We are hoping to hear something back in the next hour or so. My guess is that by the end of the day, we will be one step closer to the big move...with this house under contract.

We are hoping for a closing date of 26FEB, the same day that we close on our current house. It will be a busy day, but hopefully all will go smoothly. We are using the same attorney for both transactions in an effort to streamline the process. And, we have given in and decided to hire movers this time...what a relief!

On the Camryn front, she is getting closer to walking ever day! I can't believe it. She can walk all over the place just holding on to one of my fingers with one of her hands. She will take one or two steps to go from the coffee table to the chair or couch, too! Stay tuned for the next few weeks, I am sure we will be reporting the big news of her taking her first steps sooner rather than later.

I decided this week I should probably start brushing her teeth...seems silly given that she only has two, but I figure it will at least get her used to it. She LOVES it, especially her "training" toothpaste.

Playing "peek-a-boo" with Dad (new favorite game):



First time brushing her teeth:





Her special toothpaste:



Leap of faith from table to couch (still "brushing her teeth", haha):



That's all for now. I will be back soon with updates on the new house!!

We are slammed still, but I wanted to share a few pictures. Camryn is getting very close to walking!! She sometimes lets go of the table or couch when she is standing, and I saw her let go of the chair and clap today (while standing!). I can't believe it. I also found her on the third stair on my way down from checking on the laundry. Uh-oh!!

BRAVO!



CAUGHT RED HANDED!



THIRSTY!



TEETH!



LASAGNA FOR DINNER!